• Articles

Does Sand Exfoliate Your Skin?

One of the first things a lot of people do before a beach trip is getting a pedicure. For obvious reasons, you want beautiful feet when you’re headed to the oceanside – you’re going to be wearing flip flops and sandals, or you may take foot selfies with your toes in the sand. But, have you ever noticed that even after you paid that money for your feet to look amazing, they look even better after you’ve been at the beach? 

The reason your feet look better, and your whole body, for that matter, is through the sand’s gentle exfoliation. 

How Does Sand Exfoliate and Improve Skin?

Exfoliation of your skin is crucial as part of your skincare routine. Exfoliating skin removes dead skin cells and reveals beautifully renewed skin. We’ve all been there and spent tons of money at the best San Diego spas to get our skin looking and feeling its best. Spending time and money on spa treatments is always a good investment because skin health is just as important as the health of our teeth, hair, and other vital bodily functions. But perhaps you’re limited by budget and wonder if beach sand exfoliation could do the job just as well. Using sand to exfoliate makes sense because sand is a fine grain that removes dead skin cells with ease and leaves your skin feeling renewed, soft and beautiful. 

Does beach sand exfoliate?

Beach sand absolutely exfoliates. The importance of skin exfoliation is well known, and not everyone exfoliates as often as they should be. Ideally, it would be best to exfoliate your skin at least once a week to prevent aging and discoloration. A sand exfoliant keeps your skin brighter and softer and is free! Sand is such a perfect exfoliant that you can even find DIY recipes online to create homemade body scrubs using; you guessed it – beach sand. Keep in mind, though, that your facial skin is much more delicate than the skin on your body, so it’s best to go with a facial exfoliant like a soft lemon face scrub or something your dermatologist recommends before you use your homemade beach scrub on your face. 

Does sand exfoliate your feet?

Does sand exfoliate your feet? Definitely! Beach sand exfoliation is no secret to people that live by the seaside, and the practice of using a sand exfoliant has been around for centuries. So, now that you know the answer to the question “Does sand exfoliate?” go frolic on the beach, slough off those dead skin cells, and enjoy the benefits of grounding yourself to the earth.

Does sand exfoliate your face?

As mentioned earlier, you want to be using different products on your face as you would on your body. So, while you could gently rub some sand on your face, you’re better off sticking with a hydrating face mask to lock in moisture while still getting a deep clean. You can also use gentler exfoliation techniques for your face and do it only a couple of times a week.

Does sand have other healing properties?

Sand is such a fine grain that it easily sloughs off dead skin cells to reveal new, baby-soft skin. But let’s dig a little deeper into using sand to exfoliate. Not only does sand exfoliate, but it’s also excellent at eliminating impurities on your skin. And, when you’re using sand to exfoliate, you’re also improving blood circulation. Improving circulation is an incredible thing for your body because it reduces the appearance of cellulite and combats it from forming. It also makes skin firmer and smoother, which is why you will be left with such radiant skin afterward. So, it’s easy to answer the question of “Is sand good for your skin?” The answer is a resounding yes!

With all the benefits of sand, you may also be wondering, “Is saltwater good for your skin?” Saltwater is incredible for your skin. On top of being similar to a sand exfoliant, the sea salts in ocean water are even gentler exfoliants. Not only that, sea salt contains magnesium, which our bodies desperately need. Magnesium has many benefits, but one of its most significant is its calming effect on sore, aching muscles. So, not only does walking on sand exfoliate your feet, the salt water helps soothe them when they’re aching. We all know the ocean has positive effects on our mental health, but it’s reassuring to know it has positive effects on our physical health as well. 

Speaking of health benefits, does sand exfoliate your skin as ideally as the beach air gives your hair amazing texture? That one’s up for debate! Products are literally designed to provide you with “beachy waves.” That’s because the salt air gives your hair gorgeous texture and some serious movement. You can’t help but feel more relaxed and stress-free when you’re walking the beach, soaking up that Vitamin D with A-lister hair.

Additionally, does sand exfoliate your body as well as a store-bought exfoliator? It sure does! And, you don’t have to worry about the environmental impact of potential chemicals in store-bought exfoliates or the containers they’re stored in. So, using sand to exfoliate is a no-brainer.

How do you use sand as an exfoliant?

We’ve answered several times now, “Does sand exfoliate?” But, you may still be wondering how to go about it. It’s pretty simple, really; just head to the oceanside, pop your women’s sandals off and spend time in the sand! In between swimming, surfing, or tanning, take time to rub the sand gently across your body’s skin. As with all exfoliating, you want to moisturize afterward. So, it may be a good idea to include a jar of hydrating cream in your beach bag to put on later and if you’re using a DIY beach sand exfoliation at home, make sure you’re moisturizing afterward then too. 

How often should you exfoliate with sand?

You can use beach sand exfoliation starting with once a week. If you have sensitive skin, you may only want to do so once a week. Since exfoliation is so essential for healthy skin, you can work up to several times a week; just make sure you’re moisturizing after every time you exfoliate – whether you’re using sand or not. 

If you’re lucky enough to live in La Jolla or any beach county for that matter, hopefully, you’ll help settle the debate with your friends once and for all on “Does sand exfoliate?” Invite them to visit so they can know once and for all the benefits of beach sand exfoliation. Their perfect skin might even give them the motivation to move and be your neighbor! They’ll see their acne and other skin issues clear from the salt water, and their hair becomes a goddess-like crown to be envied by all non-beach dwellers. And, if they can’t move to the oceanside right away, be sure they take home some fine grain sand to make their own sand exfoliation scrub at home to keep their skin renewed and glowing.